Winning Social Security disability benefits is hard—very hard—and you can be turned down for many reasons. One of the most common reasons for denial is when claimants do not regularly see medical professionals for their disabling conditions, or when they do not follow all prescribed treatments. This kind of denial is often completely avoidable.
If you stop seeing your doctors while you are pursuing disability benefits, you could potentially be jeopardizing your claim and putting your health at risk. The Social Security Administration (SSA) will be looking for consistent and ongoing medical documentation to verify the severity of your condition to determine if you are in fact disabled, unable to work, and qualify for benefits. If you do not show up for doctors’ appointments or if you do not precisely follow prescribed treatments, your disability claim will likely be denied.
Medical documentation is crucial to being awarded disability benefits. To prove your disability, the SSA relies on medical records from your doctors, so not seeing them regularly weakens your case. Even if your condition seems stable, consistent follow-ups with your doctors and reporting your symptoms provide necessary ongoing documentation. It also demonstrates that you are actively managing your health and taking necessary steps to maintain your ability to work. If you stop seeing your doctors without a valid reason, the SSA may interpret this as your condition having improved enough for you to return to work, and your claim may be denied.
“Our advice to anyone seeking either Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits is very simple: continue to see all your healthcare providers and follow all prescribed treatment plans,” states Kim Schram, a Social Security Disability Attorney at Cuddigan Law. “Your case may be decided by an Administrative Law Judge. ALJs preside over hundreds of disability cases every year. For this reason, you will want your case to be indisputable, to stand out from other cases. One of the best ways to do this is to have a solid record of doctors’ appointments and treatments. Seeing a doctor once a year for a checkup may be okay for healthy individuals. But for those affected by work-limiting disabilities, a once-a-year appointment is usually not often enough. We also recommend that you keep a disability journal—a written record of how your disability affects your day-to-day living and what you do to manage it. Take your journal with you to your medical appointments and ask your doctor to sign your entries.”
“A common reason we hear for not following prescribed treatments is a concern about potential side effects. Rather than just stopping treatment, you should have a frank discussion with your doctor to assess the risks to your health associated with a treatment plan versus the risks of not being treated. Discuss alternative treatment options with your doctor before stopping treatment.”
“We understand that not being able to work due to a disability can create financial hardships, and often clients will tell us that they don’t see doctors regularly because they don’t have medical insurance and cannot afford the cost,” Schram adds. “As difficult as that situation can be, understand that the SSA is not going to be sympathetic to this problem, because there are low-cost and no-cost clinics that may be able to help you. Here are some actions you can take to help you find medical care:
- Investigate whether you are eligible for Medicaid. Nebraskans can fill out an application online at ACCESS Nebraska dot NE dot GOV. Or you can apply over the phone or request a paper application by calling 855-632-7633.
- Find a Community Health Center: Contact your local health department or search online to locate a nearby community health center.
- Contact your local Department of Health and Human Services:
For more tips on how to strengthen your claim for disability benefits download our free book: "5 Deadly Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Social Security Disability Case".
Did you know that if you have a representative such as an attorney, you are three times more likely to be allowed benefits than someone who has no representation at all? This fact was revealed in a Government Accounting Office study. The disability attorneys at Cuddigan Law stand ready to fight for your rights. Call or email us for a free evaluation of your case. And if you hire us, we only get paid when you win your case.
